Wednesday, 2 December 2015

Hunter Valley to Host 2016 NSW State Wine Judging




In the true spirit of the recently announced Hunter Valley Tourism Alliance, the judging of the 2016 Pier One Sydney Harbour New South Wales Wine Industry Awards will be held next year in the Hunter Valley at Cessnock Leagues Club from 20-22 September. During the three days in Hunter Valley Wine Country, the judges and officials will be spoilt by all the Hunter region has to offer. "This is part of the continuing strategy to attract recognition and prominence for Hunter Valley Wine Country," Chairman of the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association, Hon. George Souris said.

In recent years the NSWWIA implemented that the judging be held throughout the regions following successful trials in both Griffith and then Orange consecutively.

Following the 2016 judging in the Hunter Valley, the awards lunch will be held at Pier One Sydney Harbour on 28 October 2016 for all of the NSW wine industry to celebrate.

The judging of the awards in NSW's premier wine district of the Hunter Valley is a flag for the importance that the Hunter Valley is barely one and a half hours from the Sydney metropolis and only half an hour from Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens, as well as the growing importance of Newcastle Airport and Cruise shipping in the Port.

"I look forward to welcoming prominent judges to the Hunter; it is an opportunity for them, outside of their judging duties, to familiarise themselves with the local wine industry, the varieties under cultivation and being planted, the geography and agricultural strengths of the area and also to note the extent of development of tourism facilities in Wine Country."

"I hope they will also have a chance to sample something of the surrounding villages such as Wollombi and Broke."

The 2015 NSW Wine Awards demonstrated the strength of wines against competition from throughout the State with a whopping 197 medals received for the 293 wines which were submitted for judging. This gives the Hunter Valley a 67% strike rate and puts them ahead of all of the other regions which participated.

"We want to see the Hunter shine even further in 2016," Mr Souris concluded.


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